The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-13
Lively Scene in Church.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, October 9.-Tbere
was a sensational scene at McKendree
Church this morning. Rev. W. A.
Gambler, one of tho most prominent
Methodist ministers in the south, the
pastor of McKendree, preached a sermon
on theater. going, and used severely de-
nunciatory language in connection with
theaters and theater.goers, and in speak
ing of actors and actresses, spoke of them
in the most uncomplimentary manner.
When Mr.. Gambler finished his sermon,
MISS EMMA ABBOTT,
who vas in the audience, rose, trembling
with emotion, and very pale. She an
nounced her name, and then said she
had been on the stage since she was
eight years old, and had always tried
conscientiously, to the best of her ability,
to do her duty before God at all times,
and that she would defy any one in the
world to say one word against her fair
name. She said she would speak of such
noble women, as Jenny Lind, Albani,
Modieski and countless other lights Of
the stage who had led exemplary lives,
who had devoted themselves to doing
good deeds, and who were
NOBLE WIVES AND MOTHERS.
The minister had made objection to
prayers being sung in the operas, but
when she kneeled down to sing the
prayer in Mignon and the Bohemian
Girl, those words came right from her
heart. In all the operas given last week,
there was no impure or improper allusion,
and because one occasionally finds
VICE IN THE PULPIT,
or upon the stage, there is no reason for
such wholesale denunciation which, in
her opinion, was entirely false and un.
called for. Before
THE DEAFENING APPLAUSE
that followed Miss Abbott's words had
ceased, Mr.. Gambler said:
ri will not undertake to reply to the
lady, as she is a lady, but such perfor.
nance is more suited to the theater than
the house of God"
Your reporter called on Miss Abbott
after her return to the hotel, and found
her at dinner with her husband, hasten
ing through it in order to catch the after
noon train to Chattanooga. She was
evidently much wrought up, and was
suffering from
FEELING OF INJUSTICE.
Her woman's soul had been deeply
wounded.
"God knows" she said, 81 have
humbly tried to do my duty. My father
and mother knowif 1 have been true
womanly daughter to them, and defy
any one to say they ever heard aught
against Emma Abbott. I have had q
hard weeks work here, and after two
fatiguing performances yesterday, I got
up earlier than usual to-day to be able to
attend divine worship. I am a member
of the Church, and always attend if pos.
sible. I went
HUMBLY FOR COMFORT
and to ask Gods help to carry me
through another week safely. I love
congregational singing, and I love
Church music. l Joined in all the
hymns, and enjoyed them. I took my
seat near the door, as I always do. I
went to the Church, entirely accidentally
to that church. In his sermon, at first,
the minister gave uttterance to anecdotes
and illustrations thatI thought entirely
IRREvERENT IN THE PULPIT.
Then he began to speak of theaters
and theatrical people, and made whole.
sale denunciation of every one of them.
I could hardly contain myself. He did
not make an exception, and how could I
keep silentP Emma Abbott prizes her
name az q woman as much as she does
her reputation as an artist"
GAMBLER WON'T TALK.
Rev. Mr.. Gambler declined to be inter-
viewed but said if he had gotten up in a
theater and attempted to express his
views, policeman would have put him
out.
The incident caused the greatest ex-
citement.